Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе

           Wilkins’prescription,butyouwillrememberthatImentionedanemptyboxofbromidepowders.Oneortwoofthosepowdersintroducedintothefullbottleofmedicinewouldeffectuallyprecipitatethestrychnine,asthebookdescribes,andcauseittobetakeninthelastdose.YouwilllearnlaterthatthepersonwhousuallypouredoutMrs.Inglethorp’smedicinewasalwaysextremelycarefulnottoshakethebottle,buttoleavethesedimentatthebottomofitundisturbed.

           “Throughoutthecase,therehavebeenevidencesthatthetragedywasintendedtotakeplaceonMondayevening.Onthatday,Mrs.Inglethorp’sbellwirewasneatlycut,andonMondayeveningMademoiselleCynthiawasspendingthenightwithfriends,sothatMrs.Inglethorpwouldhavebeenquitealoneintherightwing,completelyshutofffromhelpofanykind,andwouldhavedied,inallprobability,beforemedicalaidcouldhavebeensummoned.ButinherhurrytobeintimeforthevillageentertainmentMrs.Inglethorpforgottotakehermedicine,andthenextdayshelunchedawayfromhome,sothatthelast—andfatal—dosewasactuallytakentwenty-fourhourslaterthanhadbeenanticipatedbythemurderer;anditisowingtothatdelaythatthefinalproof—thelastlinkofthechain—isnowinmyhands.”

           Amidbreathlessexcitement,heheldoutthreethinstripsofpaper.

           “Aletterinthemurderer’sownhand-writing,mesamis!Haditbeenalittleclearerinitsterms,itispossiblethatMrs.Inglethorp,warnedintime,wouldhaveescaped.Asitwas,sherealizedherdanger,butnotthemannerofit